I try to hear at least a little bit of everything but as we know that is generally impossible. Disbelief is one of those bands has truly slipped under my radar. I don’t know if it the weak band name, lack of media attention, no critical buzz or I just wasn’t paying attention but after five records on bigger labels (Massacre and Nuclear Blast) I was finally introduced to Disbelief. It sort of bugged me that I had not heard of these guys, not read a single word, nor heard a single note in the last six or seven years, but after listening to SPREADING THE RAGE I sort of see why. Disbelief is wholly unremarkable.

The band seem to have a number of things going for them, a strong label, a good producer (Andy Classen) nice booklet, layout, artwork, catchy cover design, and yet still seem nondescript. They must have a champion in the industry or even a strong regional following because these guys offer little in terms of substance. The band name is uninspired as is the font and logo and having pictures of the band smeared in mud wasn’t cool ten years ago when Sepultura did it and it still isn’t cool now.

Lyrically the band leave a lot to be desired…the lyrics just seem to go on about nothing, they are one-dimensional and suffer from being too repetitive. Supposedly the band started as a fairly heavy, death metal band but they have obviously begun courting the death and roll crowd with many hints of modern industrial sound. The whole proceeding is slow, droning on and on with layered guitars, weird vocal effects, and distinctly rock beats which makes me feel they aren’t even worth the label death metal. I’m sure the band is fine with that. Tunes like ‘Inside My Head’ are just dull but then the band shows a glimmer of life on the next cut ‘Death Will Score’. There are really nothing in terms of individual performances that stand out, two guitars but very little emphasis on solos or complex riffs, it’s all very plain.

Despite all my misgivings it is still a decent CD, not amazing but decent. It is catchy. I started really liking it, then less and less as time went on (perhaps as I over-analyzed it) but then, I came back to it, so it might have some staying power and I think I will check out their previous work. Proceed with caution, fans of newer Soilwork and In Flames might really dig this newer approach to aggressive music, but death metal fans look elsewhere.

Track Listing

1. The Beginning of Doubt
2. Ethic Instinct
3. To The Sky
4. No More Lies
5. Spreading The Rage
6. Inside My Head
7. Death will Score
8. For Those Who Dare
9. Addiction
10. It’s God Given
11. Drown
12. Democracy
Back To Life

Germany’s Disbelief has been making headway in the European underground since 1997 when their debut record first appeared. With five full-lengths under their belt, SPREADING THE RAGE sees the band hit North American soil through Nuclear Blast Records and what a find they are. This CD takes doom, goth and death and weaves everything together into a very unique listening experience. The band’s music takes on reflections of Neurosis, Katatonia and even Hypocrisy, but, as cheesy as it sounds, it is also wrought with emotion. Karsten Jager’s vocals run the gamut of black metal shriek to death metal roar to gothic croon. At times you just have to bang your head along with the songs while at other times, you can almost feel the vocals and mood of the music completely wrap around you. The latest CD from Century Media’s Eyes of Fire is a less heavy version of SPREADING THE RAGE, but just as powerful.

The instrumental opener, “The Beginning of Doubt,” is a slow, building track that grabs the listener right away with its chunky bass line and meaty riff. “Ethic Instinct” gets the ball rolling with a furious double bass opening and mournful growls of Jager. Slower tempoed songs like “To The Sky,” “No More Lies” and “Drown” are no less heavy than the others. In place of the punishing drums and swirling guitar riffs, the composition of the tracks and Jager’s vocals keep the energy levels in the red. “No More Lies” has a definite Neurosis/Katatonia feel to it with its haunting riff (similar to the opening of Killing Joke’s “The Wait”) and doom-y vocals. The doom and gloom continues with “Inside My Head” and “It’s God Given” whose vocals are very similar to newer My Dying Bride. Jager’s screams at the end of “Drown” are most impressive, while his performance on the brilliant cover of Killing Joke’s “Democracy” is almost worth the price of the CD itself.

What makes Disbelief so unique is that they are playing music that is actually different from the bulk of what is out right now. Sure there are nods to other bands but rather than being another melodic or brutal death band, SPREADING THE RAGE digs a little deeper and adds new depth to extreme metal. I’m sure this band has a loyal following on the other side of the Atlantic already, but Disbelief is sure to earn themselves many new fans on this side as well.

1. The Beginning of Doubt (Intro)
2. Ethic Instinct
3. To The Sky
4. No More Lies
5. Spreading the Rage
6. Inside My Head
7. Death Will Score
8. For Those Who Dare
9. Addiction
10. It's God Given
11. Drown
12. Democracy (Killing Joke cover)
13. Back to Life